A Sachin's Aficionado Comments

It has been famously said by Ralph Waldo Emerson that “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This has been the story of a lower middle class boy, who had greater faith in himself that what lay before him or behind him. The Kohinoor of Indian cricket, (Mind well he was crowned to be one, not self declared as some people might claim) Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has been the pillar of Indian cricket and carried its torch for over 17 years now. I consider myself a very small fish in the pool of his swarming fans and so would not wish to itierate his greatness as the records speak volumes of the great impact his game has had over modern cricket over the past 17 years.

Sachin Tendulkar “rested” from the ODI squad for the Bangladesh tour…supposedly dropped. Well, a couple of months back this news would have had atrocious consequences for the selectors and BCCI, but not today, why?? It is the same Sachin tendulkar, probably the same form but the anger of the public is different. The anguish and the frustration of the ENTIRE INDIAN TEAM not performing well has resulted in the axe falling on to the all-time great batsman’s head. Is it not the same Sachin for whom we (supposedly the Indian public and HIS FANS) had demonstrated against ICC and compelled them to ask Mike Denness to take back his punishment and the baseless charges made against Sachin? Has he changed so much?? Let me present it in the language that people understand…the language of facts and figures.

Sachin has played 384 ODI matches in his entire career at an average of 44. 05 and in the last 5 years, he has played at an average of 48.03. Ooh!! That is a massive drop in his average! Also, talks have been persistent about his centuries always being a part of a losing Indian side. Out of his 41 centuries, 29 centuries have been involved in a winning cause which means that 70.73% of his centuries have helped in India winning the match. It is good to have belief in one’s thoughts but don’t believe preconceived thoughts that do not match the figures.

Friends, this article has not been posted to make people believe that the anger that they have within them is wrong but it is just to shake up everyone to once think about the many mistakes we, as mortals, do in our lives and how easily we are forgiven by those who love us. Though we thought that he is an immortal and have idolized him like that, but at the end he is a mortal and can make mistakes at times. We have been proud of a treasured possession of India known as Sachin Tendulkar and today when the time is there to back him…Don’t leave him alone in the midst of a sandstorm. He pulled India out of one in Sharjah and continuously done so over the years. Before we call him selfish and not a TEAM-MAN…think of 143 vs Australia in Sharjah, 98 vs Pakistan in World Cup 2003…140 vs Kenya after his father’s death, 124 in a test match vs Pakistan with horrible back spasms…single handedly took India in the semi-finals of the 1996 world cup…673 in World Cup 2003…..I am leaving the blanks for all of u to fill them up through your comments…Let us give back to the champion what he has given us…moments to cherish and be proud of for 17 long years!!!